Resurgence

It had been two days.

Stephanie sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring at her phone screen.

Block number.

Delete chat.

Erase.

It should have felt freeing, but the weight still remained in her chest.

Mirabel's words echoed in her mind. "You need to decide what comes next, Steph. Because this isn't the end of your story."

She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling slowly. Maybe Mirabel was right. Maybe she had spent too long grieving something that was never real to begin with.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

'I used to think love was enough.

For the past decade, I poured everything I had into this relationship. I dreamed of a future, a life together that would stand the test of time. I invested my heart, my energy, my every waking thought—and look where it got me.

Here I am, staring at myself as the remnants of what once was hang heavy in my chest, It's hard to believe I was so blind.'

Her eyes flew open and her gaze burned with a new resolve.

Enough.

*I'm not going to let this define me. I keep reminding myself every day that I deserve more. I deserve to be with someone who cherishes me, respects me, and believes in our love as much as I do.

It's taken me a while to grasp that, but it's true.

I needed this pain to realize I could stand on my own, to ignite a fire in me that had long been dwindling but barely alive.*

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, and grabbed her phone.

She headed outside to take a breather. Her movements sent a dull ache through her ribs, but she ignored it. Pain was temporary. Weakness, too.

*******

The hospital garden was calm and peaceful, a perfect place to relax and unload excessive thoughts.

As she strolled along the pathway, her attention was drawn to a small pond that offered calming sounds of water and attracting birds and butterflies.

A few steps away, a bench was placed underneath the shade of a tall tree. On it, sat a lone man feeding breadcrumbs to a flock of birds. His gaze fixed on nothing in particular.

On her way here, she overheard nurses whispering in the hallway.

"He woke up a few days ago, but he doesn't remember anything."

"No family, no visitors. No one knows who he is."

Stephanie hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now, standing here, she found herself curious when she spotted the said figure.

Before she could dwell on it, someone ran into her, sending her a step backward.

A little boy, not older than five, ran excitedly across the garden—until his tiny foot caught on the edge of the pavement, which sent him tumbling forward.

Stephanie reacted instinctively, kneeling beside him. "Are you okay? I hope I didn't hurt you." She asked.

"No, I'm fi—." The boy blinked up at her with wide eyes before breaking into a big grin. "Wow, Auntie, you're so beautiful! Has anyone told you that?"

Stephanie chuckled. "Thank you. You're pretty handsome yourself."

The boy giggled, nodding his head. "Of course. But not as handsome as that uncle over there," he pointed toward the man on the bench.

"But…" He leaned in closer, his tiny hands cupping around his mouth as he whispered, "he's a grumpy uncle. He doesn't talk to anyone."

Stephanie followed the boy's gaze.

The man was still seated, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable.

"Grumpy?" she mused, her curiosity deepening.

Just then, a woman, probably the boy's mother hurried toward them. "Liam! There you are. You know you're not supposed to run off like that."

"Sorry, Mummy," the boy pouted before flashing Stephanie another bright smile. "Bye, beautiful Auntie!"

Stephanie smiled and waved at him as he was led away, but her attention returned to the 'grumpy uncle' on the bench.

She wasn't sure why, but something about him made her pause in her tracks.

And for the first time in days, her mind drifted away from Julian.

*******

She cautiously approached the pond, her gaze locked on him, amazed by his striking features.

The sun shone down, illuminating his tall, broad-shouldered frame. His dark hair tousled slightly by the breeze, framed his sharp yet gentle features that seemed to possess an allure of their own.

His skin appeared sun kissed, as if he had spent countless days under the golden sky, and his toned, lithe physique suggested both strength and agility.

To Stephanie, he seemed like a vision come to life, a figure plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. His deep ocean eyes, held a hint of confusion and distance.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Excuse me! Do you mind if I sit here?" Her voice was soft and polite

The man didn't spare her a glance, but after a beat, he shifted making space for her.

Taking it as a silent yes, she lowered herself onto the bench, smoothing her hands over her lap.

A brief silence stretched between them,

Stephanie wasn't sure what she expected, but his indifference made her feel oddly self-conscious. Clearing her throat, she decided to break the awkwardness.

"Hi, I'm Stephanie. And you are?" She extended a hand toward him hoping for a handshake or at least some acknowledgement but was thrown off by his lack of response.

Just the steady sound of the pond in front of them.

Her hand hovered between them for an uncomfortable second before she slowly retracted it, embarrassment creeping up her neck.

Stephanie let out a soft chuckle, more at herself than at him. "Okay, not a talker. Got it."

She wrapped her arms around herself. "I guess I can relate to that... It's been a strange couple of days for me too."

Still no response, but for some reason, she kept talking.

"I woke up in a hospital bed two days ago, barely able to move. Turns out, I got into an accident. You'd think that would be the worst part, right? But no. The real damage happened before that."

Her fingers fidgeted with her hospital gown, her gaze reflecting her pain.

"I found my fiancé in bed with someone else."

The words left her lips before she realized she had said them aloud.

She inhaled deeply, as if trying to steady the emotions.

"Laughable, isn't it? How you can give someone years of your life, only to realize they never really valued you in the first place?"

She glanced at him, half-expecting him to remain indifferent.

But this time, there were some movements in his jaw and fingers.

A reaction. Though subtle, It was there.

So, he wasn't completely lost after all.

Stephanie exhaled, her lips curving into a faint and almost amusing smile.

"You know, talking is free. It might even help."

And for the first time, the man turned his head, just slightly as if considering her words.

It wasn't much. But it was something.

"It's funny how a breakup can shake your entire foundation, leaving you sifting through rubble, trying to salvage what's left. I spent years believing in him, trusting him. I thought love was enough, you know?"

And finally, he turned his head slightly. Not much, but enough to let her know he was listening.

This time, she didn't stop talking.

"This morning, I finally did it. I blocked him, deleted the texts, the pictures, all the remnants of a love that once filled me with sweetness but has since curdled into bitterness. And with each item I cast away, I felt lighter, as if I were shedding layers of skin that no longer served me.

I can't change the past, and as painful as it is, I'm supremely grateful for the lesson. Every scar tells a story, right? I'm just beginning to write my next chapter—a story of resilience, of hope, of moving on. And I'll lean into the discomfort, knowing it's all part of growth."

Then, there came a voice deeper than she expected, low and slightly hoarse.

"That's the best decision you could ever make."

She turned to him, surprised he had spoken.

"What happens next?" he asked, eyes still fixed on the water.

Stephanie blinked, then let out a small breath.

"I will cherish the lessons he taught me but not let them confine me. Today, I'm choosing myself, my dreams, and the beautiful future that awaits me. I'm not just moving on; I'm soaring."

*******